One of a large group of inter-war period submarines, SS-131, S-26 entered service in 1923. When World War II began, S-26 was stationed at New London, but was sent to Panama shortly after Pearl Harbor.

She was lost in January 1942, on her second patrol, in a collision with an American subchaser that had escorted S-26 and three other S-boats to their patrol area. The captain, LCDR Earl C. Hawk, and two others who were on the bridge at the time of the collision, were the only survivors.

One of the three survivors, LT Robert Ward, the executive officer, later went on to command the U.S.S. Sailfish (ex. Squalus).

U.S.S. S-26 (SS-131) was lost on 24 January 1942, in the Gulf of Panama, about 14 miles west of San Jose Light in 300 feet of water, following a collision with an escort, U.S.S. PC-460. Three members of the bridge party were the only survivors. Three other crew members, who were not aboard, also survived. These were S2 Phillip W. Doerfer, S1 Joe B. Hurst, and S1 William Jeavons, all of whom were in the hospital at the time of the collision.